Hydraulic lift for bathtubs



NOV. 27, 1934. G, FEULNER HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Jan. 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIII'III 1111111 I IIIIIIIIIIIIIII G-eorqe Fkulner /I Home y Nov. 27, 1934. G. FEULNER ,2

HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Jan. 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Georye" Feulner lnvenior- NOV. 27, 1934. G NE 1,982,245

' HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR BATHTUBS Filed Jan. 17, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Georye Felner Inventor Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR. BATHTUBS George Feulner, Boulder City, Nev. Application January 17, 19,34, Serial No. 707,025

2 Claims. (Cl. 4-185) This invention is a hydraulic lift for bathtubs, and consists in the provision of means for supporting the body of the bather at the desired elevation with reference to the bottom of the tub.

58 An object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with a bathtub or similar device hydraulic means embodying a chair, basket or other suitable element to accommodate the body of the bather, whereby provision may be made, in the 30 case of an adult, for the attaining of a comfortable sitting posture within the tub; or in the case of an infant child provision is made for supporting the child within a basket or the like within the. tub at a suitable elevation to facilitate the washing of the child by the nurse without requiring the nurse to attain a constant uncomfortable posture, as is now required when washing an infant within a bathtub.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent 90 from the description, taken in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the application of the invention.

Figure 2 is a'vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sectional views :3 taken substantially on the lines 4.-4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the plunger.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a male coupling 35 member.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a female coupling member.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tubular stem of the plunger.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a plug and Figure 11- is a perspective view of the upper end of the cylinder.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that 12 indicates a bathtub 5 of substantially conventional construction. In

the present instance, at the end of the tub 12 remote from the drain there is secured to the under side of the. bottom of the tub by suitable fastening elements 14 the flange 15 of an aperturedex ternally threaded plug 16. A cylinder 17 is open,

at its upper end and at said end is provided with internal threads whereby the cylinder may be readily screwed on to the plug 16 as shown.

Mounted for reciprocation within the cylin- 5 der 1'7 is a plunger which in the present instance includes a hollow stem 18 having on its lower end a suitable piston 19 and above the piston a stop. shoulder 20. Screwed into the upper end of the stem 18 is the threaded pin portion 21 of a socket or female coupling member 22. A male coupling member 23 fits within the socket or female coupling member 22 as shown in Figure 6, and the member 23 is provided with an attaching flange 24 which is secured by suitable fastening elements 25 to a body support, in the present instance, to the bottom of a suitable seat or chair 26. Connected with the bottom of the cylinder 17 are feed and return pipes 2'7 and 28 respectively as leads from and to a suitable source of pressure supply; and arranged in these pipes are suitable control valves 29, 30 for controlling the raising and lowering of the plunger forsupporting the chair 26 at the desired elevation with reference to the bottom of the tub 12. At its upper end the cylinder 1'7 is provided with an enlarge ment 31 which is hollowed out or otherwise suitably formed to provide a chamber 32 to which are connected hot and cold water pipes 33, 34 respectively leading from a suitable source of supply and provided with suitable control valves 35, 36. The chamber 32 opens through the top of the cylinder and communicates with the bathtub through apertures 37 provided in the bottom of the bathtub and alining with apertures 38 provided in the flange 15 of the plug 16 as will be clear from a study of Figure 3. It will also be noted that interposed between the flange 15 and the bottom of the tub 12 is a gasket 39 which is also provided with a circular series of apertures registering with the apertures 3'7, 38. It will thus be seen that a mixture of hot and cold water will be supplied to the tub 12 from the chamber 32.

From the'detailed description it will be appar ent that when, for example, it is desired to elevate the chair or seat 26 valve 29 is open, and with valve 30 closed fluid pressure will be supplied to the cylinder 17 to act on the piston 19 of the plunger for forcing the same upwardly to raise the chair or seat 26. When at the desired elevation the valve 29 is closed and the chair 26 will remain at the desired adjustment. To lower the chair valve 30 is opened and with valve 29 closed the pressure medium within the cylinder 1'7 will lead therefrom to permit the plunger to move downwardly.

In supplying the water to the tub 12 either or both of the valves 35, 36 may be opened, the water passing into the chamber 32, and from the chamber 32 through the apertures 38, 3'7 into the tub 12 to seek the proper level therein.

having a fluid pressure inlet and outlet, a piston operative in the cylinder in response to the fluid pressure, said piston being provided with an upstanding stem, a flanged plug secured to the bottom of the tub, said plug being externally threaded and provided with an opening therethrough for snugly and slidably receiving the said stem,

said cylinder being internally threaded at its upper end to engage over the threaded plug, said tub having an opening in the bottom thereof registering with the opening in the said plug and through which the stem is slidable, and a seat structure mounted upon the upper end of the stem.

2. In combination with a bathtub, a cylinder having a fluid pressure inlet and outlet, a piston operative in the cylinder in response to the fluid pressure, said piston being provided with an upstanding stem, a flanged plug secured to the bottom of the tub, said plug being externally threaded and provided with an opening therethrough for snugly and slidably receiving the saidstem, said cylinder being internally threaded at its upper end to engage over the threaded plug, said tub "having an opening in the bottom thereof registering with the opening in the said plug and through which the stem is slidable, a seat structure mounted upon the upper end of the stem, said seat being swivelly connected to the stem by providing a head member provided with a threaded portion engaged into the upper portion of the stem, said head being provided with a recess in the top thereof, and a depending nipple-like bearing on the bottom of the seat for removable disposition into the said recess.

GEORGE FEULNER. 

